With the release of different devices such as the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear, 2016 is definitely a year for virtual reality in the video gaming industry. Sony has already demonstrated their involvement as one of the earliest investors in the market, with their release of the PlayStation VR head-mounted device at the Game Developers Conference early in 2014. Unlike their opponents, the device was designed specifically for the PS4, so they did not have to worry about any deficiency in the performance of the computer graphics card.
This produced plenty of anticipation for their own player. It’s finally here, as Sony has announced the release date and price of their PS VR recently, and it fulfils the promise of their vice president, Masayasu Ito, who had stated it would be an intimate device, easily integrated with daily life. The price of the PS VR alone is USD $399 (around HKD $3,200); the price for the set, including the PlayStation Camera, PS Move and packaged games is USD $500 (around HKD $4,000). It is also worth mentioning that the system is specially equipped with a Cinematic mode; when the device is worn, it produces a virtual OLED screen of 225 inches, at a 2.5 meter frontal distance. Further, the PS VR can also serve as a panoramic camera for shooting 360-degrees images or videos.
Starting this October, the PS VR will be launched consecutively in Europe, Japan and Asia. At the moment, there are already 160 different games being developed, including classics such as “Star Wars Battlefront” and “Waltz of the Wizard”, to name a few. At the same time, over 50 other new games will be launched alongside the device by the end of 2016.
